When my wife and I watch a movie or other program on television, I most always record it first, especially a ballgame. Now why is that Grant? There is a button on our remote that will “fast forward” through certain parts of the recording. Those “parts” I have in mind are what we call “commercials.” I do not like commercials. If you do not believe me, ask my wife. The first button to eventually wear out on our remote will be that blessed one called “fast forward.”

I suppose I have now revealed my lack of patience in watching anything with commercials. Be that as it may, I love that little fellow … the fast forward button.

I can easily recall the first television set we had when I was just a pup. It was a large square box and had three snowy channels. My Dad ran a television line to the top of the mountain in front of our house. As I got older, I had to go up the mountain, to the top, and clear the line of debris. Now I was raised in eastern Kentucky, so we are not talking about a short jaunt, then back to the couch. No, no, it took a while. One more thing, there was no remote. To turn the TV on or off or change channels, someone had to actually get up, go to the TV and do so.

I also remember seeing the first color television sets in a Sears’s store. “Green” seemed to be the predominant color as I recall.

Anyway, back to commercials. Mankind has always marketed their wares by some method or other, but when the television came into the living rooms, advertising via commercials really grew wings. When it comes to marketing their products through commercials, the business folks are all saying one of two things. Their product is always better, or it is the only one of its kind. Even attorneys and law firms are now permitted to legally advertise. Their message is always, “Let’s go sue someone.” On top of that most all commercials are presented with some form of “sex appeal.”

With commercials, the bottom line is always about selling a product. There is certainly nothing wrong with trying to sell a product and advertising your product (depending on the product and method) so that it will sell and so that you may even increase your sales. Marketing the product is also accomplished by many avenues other than just television. Advertising is everywhere. You know that. From the time we crawl out of bed in the morning until we flop back in at night, we have been bombarded with marketing in some form.

And now I finally get to my point. For several years I have noticed that Jesus is treated by some as a product to be marketed to the masses. Some churches, especially some large ones, seem to actually be marketing Jesus. Some pastors make statements like, “I’m a salesman for Christ,” or something along those lines.

With the long route I took to get here, I now must say that I feel this is just wrong. Jesus Christ is not a commodity. It seems to me that the world has a view of Christianity as one among many religions. Also, the world seems to think that Jesus as God comes in many flavors; i.e. Christian, Jew, Hindu, Confucianism, Catholicism, Islam, etc.

Is it possible that the world equates Christianity and Jesus as a product we are commercializing? Don’t some advertise Him as if they were doing a TV commercial? If this is true, aren’t we saying in effect, “My God is better than yours,” or “My religion is better than yours?” If we are saying that, aren’t we giving them credit for having the same thing we have, but ours is better?

Now I do not actually believe that true Christians have this intent at all. We know that Christianity is not a religion. It is a relationship with God in Jesus Christ. Jesus is not “a” god. He is “the” God.

Actually the world’s mindset of the commercialization of the one true God is not new. This has always been going on. Just consider the gods that the civilizations before us had at any one time. “But we are the enlightened 21^st century civilization!” Nope. We are no different than those in the days of Paul, Abraham, and Noah. Satan has blinded the world from the beginning in considering all gods, and God, on equal footing. “Just pick one. Any will do,” says that crafty devil.

I am not a salesman for Christ. I am not trying to present Christ to anyone as a god better than what the other guy has. I am simply saying that you are holding on to nothing.

Let me explain it this way. I am not putting Jesus Christ in the lineup on equal footing with All, Fresh Start, FAB, Tide, Wisk, Purex, Persil or any other whitener. Yes, Jesus can make us the cleanest we have ever been, but He is unique, and we are not speaking of clothes. We are speaking of souls.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

Does this comparison sound silly? It is silly, but no more so than to compare gods with God. They don’t exist. God is very real and Jesus is God.

All the false gods of any religion you care to name are dead and gone. They are in hell today awaiting judgment by the one true God who is eternal. Jesus lives and is in Heaven today.

Jesus is not “one of the boys.” He is not one way to Heaven among others. He is God and He is the only way.

Jesus did not come to earth to die for our sins, rise again and return to Heaven to be a buffet choice for those convinced that He is a better product than the competitor’s because our commercial is better.

“You like FAB. I like Tide. Oh well, they both get clothes clean.” True.

“You like Allah. I like Jesus. Oh well, they both get us to Heaven.” False.

Jesus Christ, who is God in the flesh, came to seek and to save the lost.

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

It is time for some Christians to stop trying to be sales people. Jesus is not for sale. What He offers mankind is not for sale. He has already paid the price, and it cost Him dearly. Christianity is free, paid for by God Himself. He only requires our belief in Him.

Jesus came to this earth, truly God and truly man, to rescue the perishing. He is not “a” way to escape judgment. He is the only way. All mankind is on the slave market of Satan. Jesus came and paid the price to set us free, but our freedom can only be received by our putting our trust in Him.

Jesus is not an option brought to you by the best commercial presentation. He is God.

One more point. We all have our favorites, whether it is washing detergent, cereal, toothpaste, clothes, cars, etc. We all have different interests in life, different talents, etc. Do you know that many of our likes and dislikes are probably influences that came through commercials we have watched?

Satan is presenting other gods to mankind just as much as Kellogg’s and General Mills present their cereals to mankind via television commercials and other avenues. They want us to buy their product. Satan wants man to buy his product.

Once we recognize that truth, hopefully we will understand that Jesus is authentic and everything else we are hearing is false.

Folks listen to what others say about false gods and false religions and compare them with the true God and Christianity. Most, for whatever reason, will believe the lie over the truth. Maybe it sounds better. Maybe it looks better. Sin has always had an appeal, but the Truth remains.

Jesus is not a commercial product. He is God in the flesh, 100% God and 100% perfect Man. To all who will listen He says, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

Grant Phillips

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Only a true Christian can say the words, “I am never alone.” A Christian, by the way, is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. He or she is a child of Almighty God, the Creator of all that is. He is the eternal One, and those who come to Him through Jesus are given eternal life and will live with Him for ever and ever.

Jesus said, “…lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

He said again, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16-18)

The very presence of God resides in the hearts of His children. Sometimes that may appear to be debatable in how we act, but nevertheless it is true. My point at this time is that no matter what life throws at us, as a Christian, we are never alone.

Satan can attack us from so many angles. We can even bring misery upon ourselves, without Satan’s help. The gamut of afflictions is practically endless to those of us who live upon this earth. I’ve always said, “If you aren’t having problems now, don’t worry about it, you will. That’s just life.”

There is so much misery in the world. Every day the newspapers hit the streets that point is proven again and again. If that isn’t enough, most human problems are never recorded in the news, but yet they remain very real. Hearts are broken, fears overwhelm, doubts afflict, pains cripple, and the list swells with each passing day.

“Oh, to have peace in my soul,” can be heard from so many; our family, our neighbors, and us personally. Will there ever be a time when heartaches and fears are no more? We have the promise of God that during a future thousand year period known as the Millennium, those days will come. Furthermore, after the Millennium, when we walk into eternity itself, those days will last forever.

And there is more good news. Right now, when our body dies, the Christian will be in the very presence of God. We will see our Savior Jesus face to face and enjoy the riches of a perfect Heaven.

Perhaps the greatest fear man has is looking into the cold, steely eyes of death. It is said that, “Everybody wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die.”

King David said in the Psalms, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalms 23:4)

The apostle Paul said, “O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

The apostle John said in the final book of the Bible, “When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Revelation 1:17-18)

All the troubles, worries, fears, and problems of this life seem light when it comes to that monster at the end of our days called death. Death supersedes them all.

“And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)

However, in the previous Scriptures above we surely see that death is not to be feared for the Christian. With any problem that is ours in life, we are not alone if Jesus is our Savior. He will walk with us through any trial we face, and He most assuredly will be there to meet us at death.

I like what king David said.

“Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!

I will praise the LORD while I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Do not trust in princes,
In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.

His spirit departs, he returns to the earth;
In that very day his thoughts perish.

How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
Whose hope is in the LORD his God,

Who made heaven and earth,
The sea and all that is in them;
Who keeps faith forever;

Who executes justice for the oppressed;
Who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free.

The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous;

The LORD protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.

The LORD will reign forever,
Your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the LORD!” (Psalms 146)

The God of Jacob is none other than Jesus Christ (Messiah). We should fear nothing of this world. We should rely on no one of this world. Our hope is in Jesus, and in Him we are never alone.

“… looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:13-14)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
And whose trust is the LORD.
“For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Only the lost man or woman walks through this life alone. They meet death alone, and then face the judgment alone. Jesus warned:

“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5)

All who come to Jesus can rest on His words, knowing they are never alone.

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

I realize that I have used many Scriptures and my comments have been short, but what I say is of little importance. The Word of God is of most importance.

In closing, I leave you with the words of this old hymn.

NEVER ALONE

I’ve seen the lightning flashing,
And heard the thunder roll,
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing,
Trying to conquer my soul;
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior,
Telling me still to fight on,
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
Refrain:
No, never alone,
No, never alone;
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
The world’s fierce winds are blowing,
Temptation’s sharp and keen,
I have a peace in knowing
My Savior stands between—
He stands to shield me from danger,
When earthly friends are gone,
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
When in affliction’s valley
I’m treading the road of care,
My Savior helps me to carry
My cross when heavy to bear,
Though all around me is darkness,
Earthly joys all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise,
“I never will leave thee alone.”
He died for me on the mountain,
For me they pierced His side,
For me He opened the fountain,
The crimson, cleansing tide;
For me He’s waiting in glory,
Seated upon His throne,
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.

Grant Phillips
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html

Email: Phillip5769@twc.com

Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com

Rapture Ready: https://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html